Easy decor on a budget

If there’s anything to learn from living in a college town for three years, it has to be that it’s amazing what people can accomplish with a little money and a lot of duct tape.

Whether you call it your boudoir, man cave or love dungeon, your room says a lot about who you are.

Whenever I walk into someone’s room, I give the once-over to see if I can pick out any quirks about them, such as their music or movies or parole hearing papers.

Your room should be a extension of you. If all you have to look at is four blank walls, you have the creative stretch of me during my middle school’s Physical Fitness week, and that’s not even enough to get the National sticker.

So, how do you give your room that “je ne sais quoi” when your interior design budget can get you two burritos and a chalupa at Taco Bell? Luckily for you, I have some great tips, and I already had lunch.

Whether you’re living in a dorm, apartment, or a house, it can get crowded in your room once your start moving things in, and you have to consider space.

One way to maximize your space is with mirrors. Mirrors can give depth to the room, and they’re easy to get for cheap.

A few circle or square mirrors of different sizes arranged in an interesting pattern can really open up your space and give you a more of a reason to look at
yourself.

Another way to make your room comfy while giving it a center of focus is a sphere chair or beanbag in a bold, bright color.

For the time you may have a guest, furniture separate from your bed or desk can
make them feel bit more comfortable and welcome in your space. This small piece of furniture runs between $25 and $40 and can be easily stored away when it’s not in use.

If you want to splurge an extra $10 to $15, pick up a cheap, easy-to-assemble side table.

If you’re looking to add some color to your walls but your favorite Pink Floyd poster just isn’t big enough, try hanging cloth on your walls. It’s like wallpaper, but it’s not messy and can be easily removed when it’s move-out time.

The key is not to cloak the entire room. This isn’t a Prince music video — you only want to cover one wall in a textured or patterned fabric to give your room some color. Since most home decor clearance fabrics start at $3.99 a yard, you’re bound to find a deal.

The last age-old tip, of course, is to look at what your parents haven’t used since their prehistoric college days — old small furniture, shelving, and lamps are great pieces that you can call “vintage” and pretend that it hasn’t been sitting under your roller blades in the garage.

Use these tips and you’re bound to create a room that is truly yours.